Oil spills and health

Oil spills are very complex events that, depending on where they occur, may result in acute exposures to nearby human populations. Regardless of the presence of humans, however, oil spills have the potential to produce long-term impacts on human well-being through impacts on ecosystems, food systems, livelihoods, and psychosocial effects. Over the past 50 years, dozens of moderate to large marine spills have provided unfortunate opportunities to study the long-term effects of these events on nearby communities. Although the general trend indicates a decrease in the overall size and number of marine oil spills from tankers (ITOPF, 2018), even a small spill can have devastating impacts on a community when it affects the industries and activities upon which the community depends. Furthermore, the volatile nature of hydrocarbon products can lead to secondary disasters, such as the explosion of a crude-bearing train in the town of Lac-Mégantic in July 2013, which killed 47 people.

The resources presented on this page provide information to understand the potential for the physical and psychosocial impacts of oil spills. We also provide guidance from public health agencies on planning for and responding to oil spills, and resources providing important insight for risk communication during spill events.

Health and community impacts

• Human health and socioeconomic effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (Sandifer et al., 2021)
  This article examines both the direct and indirect human health and socioeconomic impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  The authors present a comprehensive visual representation of stressors and traumas associated with oil spills, highlighting potential vulnerable populations. 
   
• Impacts of oil spills on Arctic marine ecosystems: A quantitative and probabilistic risk assessment perspective (Helle et al., 2020)
  This article aims to better understand the risk associated with oil spills in the Arctic environment through quantitative and probabilistic risk modelling. It examines how these risks vary for the environment and communities based on factors such as location, season, and the species impacted.
   
• A salutogenic approach to disaster recovery: The case of the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster (Généreux et al., 2020)
  This article presents the results of two community-based surveys carried out in Lac-Mégantic following the 2013 train derailment and subsequent crude oil spill. The findings highlight the impact of an oil spill on the community, subsequent response initiatives, and the importance of including community members in health protection and promotion efforts.
                       
• The development of long-term adverse health effects in oil spill cleanup workers of the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig disaster(D’Andrea and Reddy, 2018) 
  This article describes the results of a follow-up study examining physical health effects in workers that have persisted seven years after their participation in the Deepwater Horizon clean-up.
   
• Supporting Indigenous communities during environmental public health emergencies(Eykelbosh et al. 2018)

  This article presents some key considerations for public health practitioners engaging in an emergency response in an Indigenous community and/or their traditional territory. The paper draws on direct personal learning from the Nathan E. Stewart spill in Heiltsuk territory, and incorporates the perspectives of community leadership as well as the public health practitioners engaged in the response.
   
• Community impacts of fuel spills: A case study from BC’s Central Coast(Slett et al., 2017)
This webinar presented by Chief Councillor Marilynn Slett (Heiltsuk Nation), Linda Pillsworth (First Nations Health Authority), and Angela Eykelbosh (NCCEH) on the environmental public health response to the impacts of the marine diesel spill that occurred near Bella Bella on October 13, 2016.
   
• Oil spills: Treating patients, counselling communities(Eykelbosh and Kosatsky, 2017)
This article in the BC Medical Journal summarizes key considerations for physicians who encounter oil spill-related complaints from patients.
 
   
• Oil spills: Scoping the issues for public health emergency preparedness and response(Eykelbosh, 2017)
  This webinar, delivered as part of the University of British Columbia (UBC) Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) Seminar series, introduced some of the key issues facing public health practitioners in preparing for and responding to crude oil and other fuel spills.
 
   
• Effects of exposure to oil spills on human health: Updated review(Laffon et al., 2016) This article reviews the academic literature for information on the psychological, physiological, and other (genotoxic, immunotoxic, or reproductive) effects of oil spills on human. The authors included both coastal residents as well as clean-up workers in their review.
   
• Sociocultural and psychosocial impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill: Twenty-four years of research in Cordova, Alaska(Gill et al., 2016)

  This review looks at the decades of academic research in the populations impacted by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. The main findings include indicators of psychosocial stress, litigation impacts, resource loss-associated impacts, loss of the public’s trust, and perceptions of permanent damage to Prince William Sound.
   
• Health effects of oil spills and implications for public health planning and research (Eykelbosh, 2014) 
  This evidence brief provides a condensed review of a report commissioned by Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health entitled “Short- and long-term health impacts of marine and terrestrial oil spills”.  These papers synthesized the academic research on the short- and long-term physical and mental health impacts of previous marine spills. The paper also identifies measures to mitigate health impacts post-spill and identifies key considerations for public health planning and research.
   
• Does time heal all wounds? Community attachment, natural resource employment, and health impacts in the wake of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster(Cope et al. 2013)
  This article described results from the Louisiana Community Oil Spill Survey, which collected data on the mental and physical health impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This paper focuses on the how an individual’s degree of community attachment and reliance on natural resource activities affected self-reported mental and physical health over time.

Preparation, response, and recovery tools

• A comprehensive review of Canadian marine oil spill response system through the lens of decanting regulations and practices (Daisy et al., 2022)
  This article provides a review of the Canadian system and framework for oil spill response, examines regulations, federal and provincial government mandates, and the capacity of Canadian oil responders. It places focus on decanting practices offering insights into the implementation and effectiveness of decanting practices.
   
• Responding to oil spills in Canadian waters (Clear Seas, nd)
  This website provides a comprehensive overview of how to prevent, prepare for, and respond to an oil spill. It also provides a detailed overview of Government responses plans across jurisdictions.
   
• Spills and environmental emergencies (Government of British Columbia, 2023)
  This website provides resources and regulations pertaining to spills in British Columbia. While the regulations are specific to British Columbia, the resources may be helpful in other contexts.
   
• Site-specific environmental emergency response plan template (with tank) (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2021)
  This website provides a template to create location-specific emergency response plans to help reduce the likelihood of environmental contamination from small craft harbours.
   
• Guidance for evaluating human health risk at sites contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons and related chemicals of potential concern (California Department of Toxic Substances, 2021)
  This guidance document presents a Human Health Risk Assessment of petroleum hydrocarbons and other chemicals of potential concern at contaminated sites. The information presented may be helpful for preparing Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) for All-Hazard Plans.
   
• State of knowledge on chemical dispersants for Canadian marine oil spills (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2021)
  This guidance document provides a scientific overview of the key considerations and response tools aimed at minimizing adverse effects following an oil spill in Canada.
   
• Post-disaster mental health impacts surveillance toolkit. Profession practice guide (INSPQ, 2019)
  This toolkit was created to support surveillance efforts of mental health impacts after a disaster.  It outlines Québec’s surveillance systems for examining mental health impacts and outlines standardized instruments which can be quickly deployed post-disaster.  While primarily focused on Québec, the standardized tools can be used across Canada to understand the mental health impacts following a disaster.
   
• Preparedness and response for ship-source oil spills and national oil spill preparedness and response regime (Transport Canada, 2019)
  These websites outline the federal government response, guidelines, and regulatory framework for addressing oil spills in Canadian waters. They also highlight resources aimed at strengthening preparedness and response plans.
   
• Guidance for the environmental public health management of crude oil incidents(Health Canada, 2018)

  This guidance document provides detailed guidance for public health personnel involved in responses to crude oil spills. This document resulted from collaboration between the NCCEH and Health Canada and provides information on crude oil, its hazards, and its potential effects on health. The focus is primarily on acute exposure resulting from major incidents. This document is a key resource.
   
• Oil spills resource Page(National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, nd)

  This web page provides numerous resources regarding the management and clean-up of oil spills. The primary focus is occupational health and safety training for responders and clean-up workers, as well as links to other American federal agencies that are involved in spill responses.
   
• Seafood safety after an oil spill(NOAA, 2019)

  This web page provides tools and guidance documents to food safety personnel attempting to assess the safety of seafood products potentially impacted by an oil spill.
   
• Guidance for the environmental public health management of crude oil incidents (Health Canada, 2018)
  This guidance document is aimed at environmental public health and emergency management practitioners.  It helps to identify the hazard, outlines the exposure pathways and potential health considerations, and outlines public health activities to help manage the risk.
   
• Creating a world-leading response system(Indigenous Marine Response Centre, Heiltsuk Tribal Council, 2017)
  After the Nathan E. Stewart oil spill, it was clear that the current oil spill response capacity of the central coast of BC was inadequate and unsafe. This report highlights where the need for response capability is most urgent and outlines a plan for an Indigenous Marine Response Centre (IMRC) near Bella Bella to address this need. This is accompanied by an investigation report, detailing the 48-hours after the grounding of the Nathan E. Stewart and the spill that followed. It also outlines the response efforts by the Heiltsuk, and the attendance of other organizations.
   
• Communication practices for oil spills: Stakeholder engagement during preparedness and response(Walker et al., 2015)
  This academic article usefully summarizes some of the risk communication challenges around oil spills and lays out five “engagement practices” to facilitate communication with the public using the Deepwater Horizon disaster as a case study.
 
   
• Reassuring or risky: The presentation of seafood safety in the aftermath of the British petroleum Deepwater Horizon oil spill(Greiner et al. 2013)
  This article examines news media coverage of seafood safety after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and discusses the complexity inherent to balancing food risk messaging against other environmental and economic risks. A public health approach to communicating seafood safety and risk is provided.

   
• Planning for the human dimensions of oil spills and spill response(Webler and Lord, 2010)
This article, which is targeted at emergency planners, provides an approach to incorporate the effects of oil spills on humans beyond the traditional public health focus on physical health impacts.

Other environmental public health emergency resources:

Below are additional resources on other environmental public health emergency topics:

• Extreme heat
• Floods: prevention, preparedness, response and recovery
• Indigenous disaster response
• Psychosocial impacts: resources for mitigation, response and recovery
• Wildfire smoke and health